Commodore.news

Matzes a1k.org Graphics Adapter | This graphics adapter is compatible with a Zorro II slot (A2000 - A4000), and with an adapter also the A500. Specifications: Integrated monitor switcher (Amiga / VGA). Cirrus GD5434, 2 MB Blitter, 24 bits 800x600 (65Hz), 16 bits 1024x768 (75Hz) and 8 bits 1280x1024 (60Hz).

JoyDivision Joystick Adapter | Stefan Blixth developed a joystick adapter. This adapter makes it possible to use an Atari style joystick together with an emulator on a modern PC. The adapter is a HID device and does not use a driver.

The Way We Played: The Golden Age of Computer Games | The Way We Played: The Golden Age of Computer Games is a new Kickstarter project. This project want to publish a book about the games about the five major platforms of the golden age of computer games (1985-1993): Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.

FM-Sid V1.3 - C64 | 4-Mat developed a program that can be used to make music with the SFX FM Expander cartridge. This makes it possible to use 12 channels in total. The channels 1-3 are SID and the channels 4-12 are FM. You can use 256 FM instruments and 256 SID instruments.

Bblonde | Ravi Abbott made a video about removing yellowing on plastics. Instead of using RetroBright he experimented with Bblonde and Oxi-Action. Bblonde is a commercially available hair bleach and works the same as RetroBright.

Epsilon's CDTV upgrades | Epsilon wrote a blog about upgrading the Commodore CDTV. This included adding Joystick and mouse support, 8MB Fast-RAM, Workbench 3.1 extended CDTV ROMS, SCSI hard disk support and the AztecMonster SCSI to CF Card converter.

MNT VA2000 - Amiga 2000 Graphics Card (Zorro II) | Lukas F. Hartmann is developing a graphics card for the Amiga 2000. He build an adaptor card that fits into a Zorro II slot and connects to a miniSpartan6+ FPGA development board. The project is open source and you can build the graphics card yourself or order one from Lukas.

The 64 - Indiegogo project | A new Indiegogo project is started to produce a modern version of the Commodore C64. The 64 will be available as a console and as a handheld. The features are: ARM Cortex SoC, HDMI, cartridge slot, audio, USB and SD card.

LostTurboCard64 - update | Egretz is working on a modern version of the TurboCard64. The original TurboCard64, from the year 1987, is an hardware expansion for the Commodore C64 with an 4 MHz 65816 CPU and 256 kByte RAM. You can follow his progress on his web page (German language).

Uni-Joysti-Cle | Riq developed a new way to play games. What you need is a smartphone attached to your uni-cycle. The smartphone sends the movements via Wi-Fi to your C64. The game on your C64 can be controlled with the signals from the Wi-Fi receiver.

Vampire600 / Apollo - SILVER3 | The Vampire600 turbo card uses the Apollo FPGA-core to emulate the 68000 CPU and the SAGA graphics chip. The changes for Apollo are: Improvements for the reset, BFTST, Super-Scalar and SAGA video out (24Bit, 32Bit, YUV422).

Auto-fire Add-on | GI-Joe developed a small hardware expansion for the joystick. With this expansion you can add auto-fire to a standard joystick. The auto-fire expansion has an on and off switch and can be connected between the joystick and your Commodore computer.

GadgetUK164 - 1541 | GadgetUK164 made a video about the repair of a Commodore 1541 disk drive. This 1541 was suffering from a flashing LED and the fault seemed to be temperature related.

Project Bluetooth Joystick | You can follow a new project that connects two joysticks via Bluetooth. The hardware is 2 x Arduino Nano and 2x Bluetooth module HC-05. The proto type is now tested on a Commodore C64 and the total signal delay is about 20 ms.

Mega65 | Paul Gardner-Stephen is working on a FPGA version of the Commodore C65. His goal is to make an 8-bit computer for the 21st century. In the last month he has been working on the keyboard for the Mega65. The prototype is made by WASD and is almost identical to the original keyboard.

Sum CD32 | The Sum adapter makes it possible to connect USB HID keyboards to your Amiga CD32. The Sum is based upon a 16-bit Microchip micro-controller. Features: PS2-DIN adapter, built-in USB stack, configuration mode, built-in EEPROM memory for preferences storage, boot-loader for firmware upgrades and a status LED.

RetroPC64 - Dual | Andreas Wagener has upgraded his Commodore C64c. The specifications are: CPU 1: Mos Technology 8500 @ 1,02 MHz, CPU 2: Intel X5-Z8300 4 x 1440 MHz, Memory 1: 64 KB Ram, Memory 2: 2GB DDR3 Ram, SSD, USB 3.0, HDMI, LAN, WLAN 300 and Bluetooth.

UltiMem VIC-20 | Jim Brain has finished his work on the UltiMem cartridge for the Commodore VIC-20. The UltiMem is now available in his web store. The specifications are: 8 MBytes FLASH ROM storage and 1 MByte RAM storage. You can configure the extra RAM or ROM as you like.

MSD2IEC | The MSD2IEC is a classic SD2IEC device but with an extra EEPROM. The 8 kByte EEPROM is an Basic extension with the following commands: .I - Info, .ACT - Drive number, .B - File browser, .L- Load, .S - SJLOAD, .T - Tape-load and much more.

DolphinDos 3 - 1541-II | Silver Dream developed a DolphinDos 3 system for inside a Commodore 1541-II disk drive. The problem with the 1541-II disk drive is that it is very small and there is not much room for expansions. You can see how to install the system and how you can order the PCB for the system.

Project SIDFX | SIDFX is a hardware expansion for two SID chips inside the Commodore C64. This makes it possible to choose between two different SID chips with a simple switch. It is also possible to use both SIDs together. The system can be installed without soldering.

C128 repair | On the Youtube channel Cainers Commodore Capers! you can see the repair of a Commodore C128. This Commodore C128 was not working at all. In the video you can follow all the steps from diagnostics, schematics, (de)soldering and testing the system.

LumaFix64 | Biosrhythm tested the new LumaFix64 for the Commodore C64. The LumaFix 64 is a small PCB that is placed between the VIC-II and the motherboard. It can adjust the signals AEC, PHI0 and Chroma to hide the vertical stripes on the output image of the C64.

Jocopod interface & Speeding On The A81 | Speeding On The A81 is racing game for the Commodore C64. The game has 24 classical car models and can be played with a joysticks, paddles and even a PC steering wheel. For the steering wheel you will need the Jocopod interface.

Big Book of Amiga Hardware | New additions to the Big Book of Amiga Hardware web page: American Laser Games: Mad Dog McRee, C-Ltd (Cardco Ltd): A1000 Scsi Controller, MacroSystem (US & Germany): Falcon 1240, Microbotics: StarBoard 2 adaptor (SB2000), DKB: Battdisk, Custom Chips: Buster, HiSoft: Whippet, Phoenix Micro Technologies: Phoenix Expansion Box (A1000 version & A500 version), Commodore: Diagnostics aid for A1000 - 314066-01, Newtek: DigiView, Commodore: Sync Dongle - VGA Adaptor, Scala: Workstation 040, Commodore: A1000 TV Modulator, Commodore: AA3000, Commodore: A3000+, Commodore: 020/030 prototype CPU board, Commodore: 2.0 ROM tower and Commodore: A1000+ '040 prototype.

The Electronics Show #2 - World's first iPad? | Tommy Helgevold made a video about the early portable computers. Besides computers from Apple, Amstrad, Casio, Atari and many PDA's our beloved Commodore SX-64 is also in this video.

GadgetUK164 - 1451 | GadgetUK164 made a video about the repair of an Commodore 1451 disk drive. After examining, cleaning and a repair the drive now works like it should.

GadgetUK164 - Amiga 500 power supply repair | GadgetUK164 made a video about the repair of a Zydec power supply for an Amiga 500. The power supply can also be used for an A600 or A1200.

A500Flash | A500Flash is a Kickstart switcher that makes it possible to switch between available ROM images by holding down the CTRL+A+A keys. Features: Amiga A500, A500+ and A2000 models. Support for 512kB or 1 MB ROM images. Flash chips programming with native AmigaOS software.

Jetgrab | This new accessory for the Princess cartridge can be used to grab the content of Commodore tapes in stand-alone mode. It can be used for cassettes of all 8-bit commodore computers. The power for this system is an USB connection.

Business card printer - C64 | Todd George build an business card printer for his Commodore C64. He used an Epson TM-325UD model M133A printer and a serial connection for his C64. The printer program can make an QR code and print it on the business card.

COREi64 Store | In the COREi64 store you can find all sorts of 3D printed parts for your Commodore 64/128 and VIC-20 computer. A few examples are: C8D Joystick Switcher case, SuperCard Pro case, KryoFlux case, UK1541 case, Commodore 1571 Floppy drive lever and many more.

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